New Delhi: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted permission to the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government to hold a ‘Sampriti Rally’ (harmony rally) in Kolkata on January 22, which coincides with the grand opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The court, however, directed the state government to ensure peace during the rally, reported news agency PTI.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that she will organize a ‘rally for harmony’ in Kolkata on January 22.
The court dismissed petitioner Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly as well as a BJP MLA, prayer of not allowing the Sampriti rally on the same day as the consecration ceremony of Ram temple due to concerns about potential unrest.
Adhikari’s counsel told the court that permission had been granted for 35 programmes in the city related to the consecration of the Ram temple, from 11 am to 5 pm on January 22.
The court also did not pass any order on the request for the deployment of paramilitary forces in the state on that day.
The division bench, presided over by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, directed that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that none of the approved programmes is affected and that no speeches or statements are made during the rally that could hurt the sentiments of any religious or sectarian group, reported PTI.
The court ordered the organisers of the rally to strictly follow this directive and ensure that all participants are aware of it. If any violations occur, the organisers will be held responsible, the court said.
Reacting to the court’s permission, TMC said it is a victory of the people over the “communal designs” by the saffron camp.
“We welcome the Calcutta High Court order regarding the rally. It is a tight slap for the BJP leaders who had moved court trying to stop it. This is a victory of the people over the communal designs by the BJP, ” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.
Hitting back at TMC, the BJP said it is the ruling government, which has a poor track record of tackling communal disturbances.
“Earlier we have seen the state getting engulfed in communal riots during Ram Navami processions, ” BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told reporters.
On Tuesday, Banerjee stated that she will visit the Kalighat temple before beginning the parade at the Hazra crossing in south Kolkata. Park Circus Maidan will host the rally’s conclusion.
Banerjee further suggested that such rallies be planned in each of the state’s districts.
“Everybody is welcome to join the rally. On the same day, my party members will hold a rally in every block, in every district at 3 pm,” banerjee added. She said that ‘Pran Pratistha’ or consecration is not the job of politicians but of priests. “It is not our job to do ‘Pran Pratistha’. It is the job of the priests. Our job is to create infrastructure,” she said, the PTI report added.